Congee & Porridge
Fresh Lily, Mulberry and Red Date Congee
Traditionally nourishes yin and calms the mind, associated with supporting focus and restful sleep
Why people make this congee
Hyperactivity in children takes patient, long-term care, and a simple home food therapy can be a gentle support alongside it. This congee is traditionally said to nourish yin, lift the spirit and calm the heart-mind, and is associated with easing scattered attention, forgetfulness and impulsive behavior. Bro Niu offers it as a warm, comforting bowl the whole family can enjoy.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Children with restlessness, scattered focus or poor sleep, as a gentle supportive food.
- Also traditionally said to benefit adults with frazzled nerves, insomnia or restless dreams.
- Hyperactivity should be cared for by a doctor; this is a home dish, not a substitute for medical care.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Lily bulb (bai he): traditionally said to clear the heart and calm restlessness.
- Mulberry (sang shen): traditionally used to nourish yin and the blood.
- Red dates (hong zao): warm and nourishing, traditionally said to support qi and blood and aid sleep.
Ingredients (1 small pot of congee)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh lily bulb | ~75 g (2 liang) | Or ~38 g (1 liang) dried; rinse |
| Mulberry (sang shen) | ~18 g (5 qian) | Rinse; if hard, place in a soup bag |
| Red dates | 8 pieces | Pitted |
| White rice | ~75 g (2 liang) | Rinse |
Method
- Rinse the lily bulb, mulberry, red dates and rice.
- Put everything in a pot with water.
- Simmer into a moderately thick congee, then eat the congee with its ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This congee is tasty and traditionally said to nourish the five organs. As an everyday food therapy it is also valued for adults with nervous exhaustion, insomnia or restless dreams. Note: the real medicinal mulberry is the dark, ripe dried fruit; the pale, wheat-colored kind is firmer, so pop it in a soup bag and remove it once cooked. Use pitted red dates.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Cathy Wong): Is there a soup that helps a 6-year-old with poor concentration and restlessness that the family can drink? Please include amounts. Bro Niu: For a child with poor focus, try mulberry and goji ~11 g each (3 qian), polygala ~8 g (2 qian), lily bulb ~38 g (1 liang), longan ~15 g (4 qian) and 6 red dates in 6 bowls of water, simmered about 2 hours to 2–3 bowls; drink across the day, 2–3 times a week. It can be taken for a while and tastes quite nice.
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Q (carol): The “mulberry” I bought at the pharmacy is wheat-colored, and they say it gets hard when cooked in congee — should I put it in a fish/soup bag? Bro Niu: The pale wheat-colored mulberry is made from white mulberry and is less potent than the dark ripe kind, and it is firmer, so it is best placed in a soup bag and removed once cooked. Pit the red dates.
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Q (Odilia): What foods should hyperactive children eat? Bro Niu: It is best to find a doctor patiently. Eat protein- and phospholipid-rich foods: eggs, milk, lean meat, soy and tofu, walnuts, red and nan dates, pine nuts. Limit artificially colored drinks, candy, concentrated juice and soda. As a regular dish, simmer peanut and walnut ~38 g each (1 liang) with 8 red dates in a big fish-head soup (6 bowls of water down to 3–4); the whole family can drink it.
Published August 29, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
